----- She Will Be Loved
----- Written by Iris Dreamer
----- DISCLAIMER: Card Captor Sakura belongs solely to Clamp. However, the plot is mine and I would like to remain it that way. Thank you.
----- AUTHOR'S NOTE: I love University of Virginia. For those who are thinking of coming here, I definitely support your decision! For those who are seniors/juniors out there and have any questions, feel free to ask me. Leave a question and your email address in a review, or you're more than welcome to email me at: colors (underscore) of (underscore) iris (at) yahoo. (Sorry if that's confusing. It's also on my profile.) I'll be happy to answer any questions! It doesn't even have to be UVA questions; it can be just applications in general. I won't mind reading a few application essays if I'm not busy. Not that I'm saying I'm an expert, I'm far from that, but I'm here to offer any kind of help possible. :)
So, as you can all see, I've finally finished "Sort of a Fairytale" and I'm now writing a new story. This one is just going to be a sweet romance story; fun to write and fun to read. Haha. Still sticking to Card Captor Sakura, but I'm thinking of an Inuyasha one soon. Also I've noticed that many have been wondering about the original ending to "Sort of a Fairytale." I, unfortunately, do not have the ending with me here at UVA (its back home. However, if I have time, I'd love to write up the original ending once more. I'll have that posted as soon as possible? I have lots of work; so cut me some slack. But it would be fun to write. So if you want to read that other ending, please be a little patient. Meanwhile, enjoy this one.
Characters in this story may be a little out of characters especially in the beginning chapters. Chapter one's going to be a little weird and scenes are going to move from one character to another, as to show a bit of their background. So my apologies if it isn't quite fluent.
This is my late birthday gift to all of you. Enjoy!
Iris Dreamer
----- BACKGROUND: He's reached his happiest moment of his life: he has an awesome job, a circle of close friends, a good reputation, and most importantly, the girl he loves is now his fiancée. But happiness is short lived and everything he once had was thrown away and there he meets a girl that totally enraptures him, but this girl is just your normal, in the bad section of the city, prostitute.
----- DEDICATION: To all my readers. I love you all. Without you guys, I don't think I'd actually write out my stories.
----- SPECIAL THANKS: Avelyn Lauren: Thank you for being my number one reader. You're the absolute greatest, and for reading my stories with so much care. And about your question, I'm afraid I won't be able to answer that in the meanwhile!
AnimeObessionFantasy: Friends are Heaven sent angels, I swear. Cherish those friends! :)
Cherry Princess Sakura: Thank you for being such an awesome reader! I love you! Thank you for reading my stories since the way beginning! I don't think I could have made it this far without your (and everyone else's) support! Thank you!
Angelicmayuka: I'm really glad that you're enjoying this story! Thank you for all those compliments; they made me blush. Thank you!
Hououza: I hope my plot isn't that predictable, I really hope it's not, but either way, I still hope that you enjoy reading this. Thank you for all your good luck and best wishes. As for UVA's computing department, do you mean computer science? If that is so, I know a few friends who are majoring in computer science and I would love to ask for you.
Sweet-little-girl: Thank you for reading! :)
Wow: Thanks!!
Red-Emerald: Haha. I'm sorry if I mislead you on that this topic was lighter and more cheerful! Sorry about that! Haha. It's lighter in the idea that I won't have to be dealing with fight scenes that I don't know how to describe. Haha. I would write one of those "lighter" ones as you described if I could think of a plot that hasn't been written yet.
Daz: Thanks! And thank you for the birthday card. It was the cutest thing on earth.
Black cherry: Thank you. That means more than you think it does. Thanks.
Mew Mew power: I won't be answering that question here. I don't want to ruin the story for you!
Dancer5: Thank you, thank you, and thank you!
Rika: Thanks!
SoulessDreamer: Thank you. Hopefully this doesn't end out as cliché as some movies, or stories in that matter. I'm trying to add my own thoughts to it. Hopefully.
Cyan Moon: four words: Thank you very much! ;) Thank you for those wonderful compliments. You think too highly of me. I try though. I wish I knew Spanish. It's an interesting language and I've only succeeded knowing a few words my friend taught me.
. : What a cute face! ;) Enjoy this chapter!
Albino Cloud: You're very welcome for the email I sent you. Please feel free to email me! And that goes for anyone else as well. :)
Ice'n'Sugar: Thank you! Happy reading!
AND FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS READ THIS, or anyone that I forgotten which I hope was none, thank you for reading. Thank you! :)
----- CHAPTER TWO: Changes
"You did what?" The sharp voice shrilled angrily over the phone. Syaoran winced as his mother ranted on the other end. "I cannot believe you did that! Microsoft's would have been a huge asset to our company. What have you been doing lately?"
"Mother, I gave them my best. I presented the material just as you told me to," He tried to explain, but was only cut off by his mother once again.
"If you gave them your best, none of this would have happened. They would have chosen to merge with us rather than investing in our company. Syaoran, I expect more from you."
Syaoran sighed mentally. "Yes mother."
"Don't give me that tone and don't you 'sigh' me, Syaoran." His mother snapped angrily, knowing her son as well as she knew that one plus one equaled two.
"Yes mother,"
"Anyhow, how is everything between you and Daidouji?"
"Good, mother. We're planning to have the wedding around a month from now." The business replied, his voice just as serious even though the topic had changed into a much happier one.
"Well, start getting the details out soon. How else am I supposed to make sure all our guests will have time to make it your wedding? There's so much to prepare for weddings, so start getting into it." Yelan reprimanded.
"I'll call Daidouji sometime this week to settle the details." His mother continued. "You handle that next case that's coming up this week. Just focus on your job. I'll handle the wedding."
"Thanks Mother." Syaoran answered, fiddling with his pen that suddenly became so much more interesting.
"I'll call you tomorrow and see what you have for the case."
"All right," He replied, writing a note to himself that he had to get everything done tonight. It was not going to be a fun night at all.
"Remember now, you have to get through the papers I sent you and get Mihara to copy the data for you. I want to make sure that you promote our image and you better capture their attention. It's not as big as a catch as Microsoft, but we can't let this one slide out of our hands."
"This is an essential stepping stone to make sure our company goes up higher, which if you do a good job, we could increase our total revenue by a dramatic ten percent. That's major."
"Yes Mother. I'll get to that right away."
"I'll call you tomorrow at the same time. I've already checked with Mihara that you don't have anything planned then, so you better be in your office."
"Yes Mother. I'll talk to you then." He hung up and turned his attention to his planner. Marked on the 22nd was his surprise date for Tomoyo. Now he would have to cancel that, but that meant going through the trouble of canceling the reservations he had taken so much trouble in getting and disappointing the girl he loved. He had told Tomoyo that he was bringing her somewhere special later on that night.
Syaoran looked at the thick packet of material he had to go through then at the phone at which he had just talked to his mother with.
Sighing, he picked up the phone and started dialing.
"Hey? Eriol? Could I ask this huge favor?"
-----
It was freezing cold outside and she wrapped her coat around herself more tightly and braced herself when a gust of icy air came slicing at her. Shivering, she walked faster, wanting to get to her work faster so that she could be in the heat at least, even though her job was nothing to look forward to.
Suddenly, she was pushed roughly to the side and Yuki spat out a string of curses at the guy who rammed into her while running.
"Stupid asshole," She muttered as she steadied herself.
"Stop!" An angry female voice yelled. "Someone stop him! He's got my purse!" She continued, protesting weakly as she ran after the guy.
Yuki looked at the guy who had just sped down the corner and sighed out loud. Looking again at the girl who was trying to get back her purse back and no one else responded, Yuki cursed again as she ran in the direction where the guy had left.
Within in no time, she had passed the schoolgirl who was tiring quickly. The bulky man was not hard to identity with his ridiculous bright green hair.
"Just another stupid high school drop out," Yuki muttered under her breath. "What a waste." Sighing, she quickened her pace and launched out her right leg, causing the guy to trip and fall into a heap on the ground.
The guy's eyes widened and immediately scrambled up and would have dashed away if the girl who had chased after him at amazing speed wasn't stepping on his back.
"Nice try," Yuki said, grinning evilly, "but really, you have some awful luck." She laughed and stepped on the guy's back harder. She retrieved the horrendously bright purple with glittery pink flowers purse from the guy's hands.
When the purse's owner came with a police, Yuki was getting bored and not to mention extremely cold.
"Good job there," A low male voice said, his voice subtly amused. Yuki looked up from where she was sitting on the thief's back.
"Thanks," She replied, tossing the purse to the young girl who thanked her profusely and the police before running off quickly. Yuki sighed and got to her feet, ready to leave the coldness and head to somewhere warm.
"Wait, please," The police officer called after her. Yuki sighed and stood there, tapping her feet impatiently as she watched the young officer give a strict lecture to the green haired punk.
He was quite attractive actually. His black hair and dark brown eyes were common, but his body was nicely built with good broad shoulders. His dimples were actually quite attractive against his smile. The smile fitted him. Not bad for a police officer, Yuki thought wryly.
The police officer walked to her with a grin after reprimanding the thief who had immediately bolted after the "prep talk."
"Thanks for helping," He told her. He offered his hand.
And Yuki stared at him incredulously.
And he laughed and withdrew his hand. "I'm Ryoko. I work for the police department."
"I can tell," She replied dryly.
"And aren't you supposed to tell me your name now?" He said, with a teasing twinkle in his eye.
"I never wanted to know your name," Yuki replied smartly. "And if you will excuse me, officer, I'll be leaving now."
"Well, at least let me treat you to a cup of hot coffee before you head off to wherever you're going." He called after her.
Yuki paused in her steps; hot coffee sounded really nice right now actually.
"You'll never see me again," Ryoko continued, with a roguish grin.
Yuki sighed, and nodded.
"If that's the only way I'll get you out of my face." She answered, trying to be annoyed.
Ryoko laughed again. "Come on, I saw a Starbucks while coming here."
He steered her into the coffee shop where the rich aroma and wonderful blessed heat welcomed her at the same time. Taking a deep intake of rich spices and coffee, Yuki smiled contentedly with eyes half closed. She almost half expected herself to start purring with contentment.
Ryoko grinned. She really was quite beautiful when she's smiling when she thinks no one's looking, he mused.
"So what would you like?" He asked. Yuki opened his eyes and stared at him before looking at the menu.
"Oh, whatever you're having," She replied. "It's your money anyhow," She said shrugging.
"But you're the one drinking."
Yuki groaned out loud purposely and shot the young police officer a dirty look. "The mocha latte," She said after a while of skimming the list of coffee names that sounded all very tempting. Coming out here and drinking Starbucks was a luxury she never had. Coming in here just to be in here and pretend she was a normal person for a while was a good enough of a treat.
"Good choice." Ryoko complimented and placed down an order of two mocha lattes. He paid for the drinks and brought them back to the table where she was sitting as she observed the people walking outside.
"Here you go,"
She nodded absently and wrapped her cold hands around the soothing warm cup of coffee and drank blissfully. He could see the calluses on her hands. Her grip on her coffee cup showed that she had lots of strength. There was no doubting that she knew how to fight, and how to fight well. She carried a sense of pure energy. Her fiery red eyes blazed with emotions of determination and strength, as well as sadness. She didn't seem to be someone from around here actually. Her movements were bold and straightforward held with some sense of courage and fire that normally didn't exist in the bustling town of Tokyo, especially not on the outskirts of Tokyo.
To put it simply, she intrigued him. Immensely.
"It's rude to stare," She said suddenly. Her red eyes that were flaming gently showed that she was more amused than she was angry.
"So where did you learn to do martial arts?" He inquired instead of picking the other option of embarrassing himself with the reason why he was staring at the beautiful stranger in front of him.
Yuki shrugged. "Around," She replied vaguely. "You were watching while you could have stopped the punk? What kind of cop are you?"
Her voice was sharp and direct, but the half grin that was lazing on her lips made him knew otherwise.
Ryoko grinned, not the least apologetic. "You handled the situation perfectly fine," he answered. "You should become a police actually. We could use someone like you."
She would have sputtered into her coffee and laughed loudly at the thought of her, working at a phone sex line became a police officer, if the compliment hadn't thrown her completely off guard.
So instead she just stared, like an idiot.
"Excuse me?" She stuttered softly.
The young police officer titled his head, wondering if he should repeat what he had said. She looked completely surprised, almost shocked actually. Was what he said not a compliment?
"I don't think I could become a police officer," the girl finally said, covering the pause. "Thanks for the coffee. I really should be going."
She got up from her seat, nodded her thanks again before quickly scurrying outside into the cold. Ryoko turned in his seat and watched the mysterious girl leave, a hand attempting to tame her raven hair that was blowing with the wind. Her ruby eyes were captivating and they contained a sense of secrets and sorrow that he felt like he had the need to open.
But heck, he didn't even know her name. He'd never see again; he had promised her that much. Shrugging, Ryoko walked out the door and to his own ways.
If they were to meet again, fate would make sure of that, so he found no point of actually tracking her down. Ryoko chuckled to himself as he got into his police car. He sounded like a stalker, he mused with a wry grin.
-----
Eriol put the phone back on the cradle, dazed at what his friend was asking to him to do. Sighing, he plopped himself on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. It was white, a bit dirty from the dust that was collecting there, if dust collected up there. But it seemed so much more real than Syaoran's favor he was asking.
Syaoran had wanted him to take his place, and take Tomoyo, his fiancée out to dinner, at the best restaurant in Tokyo.
Tomorrow night.
At six.
That was less than 36 hours away.
It seemed too weird to be true. For Heaven's sake, the damn beautiful lady was taken, by his best friend, and now he was bringing her out to dinner at the fanciest restaurant. Things like that just should be avoided. He had seen how stunning Tomoyo was in a dress. He had seen how exactly gorgeous she could be.
The last thing he wanted was to make a fool out of himself.
But it seems like everything around him was urging him to be just that.
That was only supposed to happen in chick flicks and corny romance novels. He couldn't believe it was happening to him of all people. It wasn't supposed to happen. That was an invisible line you don't cross that he had learned the day guys started liking girls and whatever "cooties" girls had never existed.
God forbid that you like the girl of your friend's. Things like that just never worked out. There were too many complications, and it'd be a mess of blood and gore.
Rule two was to never go after your friend's ex. Yeah, that one never really went smoothly either.
Ruining his best friend's life was not one of his priorities. Hell, it wasn't even on his list. He might as well go jump off a building or shoot himself before he even thought of stealing his best friend's fiancée.
So basically, in other words, Tomoyo Daidouji was officially out of his reach, but damn it, he couldn't keep his mind off her.
And the fact that he had to bring her to dinner in place of Syaoran wasn't helping a bit.
Eriol groaned. He wasn't going to get a bit of sleep tonight. Damn Syaoran for asking him that favor. Damn Tomoyo for being so damn gorgeous. But most of all, and sadly enough, curse himself for liking his best friend's fiancée.
---
"Pay up." Kira demanded, her palm open.
Her boss looked up at her with an arrogant grin. Raising his eyebrow, he reached into his desk and handed her a wad of bills. She snatched the bills, counted five one hundred bills and thrust the rest back to the greedy hands of the one who controlled her. Biting her bottom lip to stop herself from beating up her boss, Kira quickly turned to leave the room that contained a musty smell.
"Here, why don't you take another hundred? You did a good job today." He gave her a sickening sweet smile.
Kira gave him a fake patronizing one in return and stuck up her middle finger in his face. "Go to hell. I don't want your filthy money."
He laughed loudly and walked over to her. "Sweetie, you wouldn't be here if you wanted my money." He grabbed her chin and made her look at him. "You're mine."
"Not after this god damn contract is over." Kira shot back angrily, jerking herself away from his grasp.
"That's still one month from now sweetie." He answered carelessly. "Who knows, you just might end up working here a while later."
Kira's eyes flared up in anger. "The last thing I want to see is your messed up face in my life again." She told him.
"Not if I have a say. You're my money tree. I never let go what's mine." He said as he walked around her stealthily as a hawk did circling his prey. Kira eyes warily followed his movements as she shifted her body lower, ready to attack if necessary.
"Cut the crap and let the lady go." A third voice boomed from the doorway. Kira looked over to find the bouncer, Moe. She let out a breath of relief and quickly walked towards the exit. Moe nodded and let her past.
"Jack, quit joking around with her. You know the people who come here. They just want to survive in the world out there. Stop making it more difficult as it is." Moe reprimanded.
Jack laughed. "Kira can handle it which is why I do that to her. She has guts and a strong sense of herself. Most, as you've seen Moe, are here and stay here because they're stuck. They don't know other ways. This Kira, well, she knows what she wants, and she's not afraid to get her hands dirty along the way."
"Yeah," Moe grunted. "Not many people come in, signing for only three months when you've set the lowest possible is half a year. You're becoming soft."
Jack merely snorted. "I'm not getting soft on anyone. I figure that all of us are pretty much stuck in this shit hole, we might as well do it together." He said, shrugging.
"There's a demand for strip clubs, but how many people are actually going to open one? Sure you go to them, but who would want to say, 'yeah. I work at a strip club'? No one, that's who. It's considered a disgrace beyond mankind." The boss continued.
"Especially when lots of people who come here are filthy rich bastards," Moe commented.
"So we suck their money dry." Jack said rudely. "It's a simple as that."
"Not that simple." The bouncer said.
Jack laughed. "You're thinking about that girl, Kira."
"No, I'm thinking about all those girls who have to dance like that. It's the worse job here. You get to sit in your office and deal with the occasional paperwork. Me and the bouncers just check for IDs and break up any fights that happen. The bartenders just serve the beer and have to deal with some harassment, but not much. It's those strip dancers that get the worse out of everything."
"Deep."
"I learn from the master."
Jack grinned lopsidedly. "If there were another way I'd give those ladies money, I'd give it to them." He answered. "But there's no way that I can give them much money if all we have is a bar."
"Well, you do what you can already. You pay them more than any other club and everyone else that's working here."
"But it doesn't make the job any simpler."
"Life ain't meant to be simple."
Jack laughed dryly. "I guess that's true. But damn, what a shit load of crap those girls must be hauling if they're willing to be erotic dancers."
-----
Kira glared at every offending car that she passed with loathing. The occasional Mercedes Benz or Lexus car that passed earned a death glare and a mutter of curses. She couldn't stop herself from being so hateful to those who just had so much money while there were so many that were struggling to earn money. While some were having a hard time to put food on the table, to cloth the children, to pay medical bills, some got all the damn good luck out there and drove in rich cars, lived in warm houses, and ate expensive food.
God damn them all.
Walking an hour back to where her apartment was at 2am in the morning was not something she looked forward to after work.
"I hate Mondays," Kira muttered angrily. Those were the days where she wasn't able to catch a ride home because Lia didn't work on Mondays, so she would have to walk back home. She hated the sketchy environment and how the cold cut into her thin jacket. She hated how tired and dirty she felt, but had to suck it up and be brave. She hated what she had to do to survive.
But that was all she knew she had to do.
A car was honking away into the quiet night. Kira muttered more curse words under her breath as the stupid, probably drunk, driver kept honking away.
"For God's sake, shut the hell up!" She shouted over her shoulder at the offending sound and was immediately blinded by the bright car lights.
"Where are you heading? I'll bring you there." A male voice called back.
"The hell you will you horny ass bastard!" Kira cursed back, giving him the middle finger before walking quicker.
She could defend herself quite well, with credit to her friend who had taught her. But she was at odds here. As well as she could fight, the guy could always have a weapon of some sort. Yuki might be able to handle it, but not her.
"Come on, get in the car! It's cold."
"Thanks for stating the obvious!" She yelled sarcastically, "But go find some other stupid whore to warm your bed tonight!"
"Wait, what?" The male voice said confused. "The hell, I'm not trying to pick anyone up!"
"That's what you're asking me to do!" Kira stated, starting to speed up into a run.
"Wait!" The man shouted. "I'm not asking to get laid! Wait!"
Kira ignored him and began running quickly down the asphalt. She'd have to thank Yuki later for advising her to buy a good pair of sneakers the other day.
"Wait!"
Damn, the guy's persistent, Kira muttered, thinking of a way to get rid of the stalker.
"Wait! You're Kira, aren't you?" The man yelled. "Just wait a second and let me explain!"
She stopped. Her brain was yelling at her for being stupid and yelling, but curiosity got the better of her. She didn't tell many her name, even her alias at that. She made up new names as she went along. Those who knew that name was either was her co-worker or Yuki.
He sounded like neither.
The man came running up to her. Kari raised a surprised eyebrow at the young man that was dressed in a suit that was a bit wrinkled from running. His tie was crooked and his collar was flipped, but other than that, this guy was filthy rich.
Her eyes traveled up to meet messy brown hair and finally landed upon sharp amber eyes.
"Ah, so we meet again, Syaoran Li." Kira smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. "What wind blows you here?"
The young business man just shot her a dirty look. "I just got out of my office and I drive past here to get to my place and I saw you walking along."
"And you called out to ask me to have a fuck." She finished. "The answer's no, sweetie." She said sarcastically and she turned to leave.
Syaoran reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Kira's eyes flashed. Spinning around on her heel, she launched out a solid kick back. Syaoran immediately let go of her wrist and his right hand came up and blocked her kick.
She put down her leg. "So the rich business man knows how to fight."
Syaoran snorted. "Don't assume."
"That goes for you as well." Kira retorted hotly. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back home."
He sighed out loud. "Look, I didn't come here to argue. I just saw you walking and was wondering if I could give you a ride to wherever your home is."
"Thanks, but no thanks."
"It's freezing cold outside and that jacket of shouldn't even be called a jacket. It's 2am and there could be all kind of guys that are lurking here."
"Oh gee, like someone like you?"
"If you don't want a ride that much, just say so," Syaoran shouted back annoyed.
"I did!" She replied angrily. "Now go away!"
"Just get in the damn car," He said in a quiet serious tone. "I've had a fucking bad day and I don't have to deal with this."
"You think you're the only one who goes through such crap?" The erotic dancer retorted. "And you don't have to deal with this. You can just walk away and stay in that little god damn perfect world of yours." With that, she walked away.
"My world isn't perfect!" he shouted after her.
She stopped and turned around. "And neither is mine." Kira said. "Welcome to the real world."
Syaoran glared at her before waking back to his car. Kira let out a breath of relief and kept on walking in the direction of her house. All because of him, her vision of taking a hot bath was postponed, and the ice cold air was helping the least.
Damn it all, Kira thought darkly as her vision immediately blurred and her within seconds she was soaked to the skin. It was pouring, literally. She couldn't even see the road ahead of her. Everything was just a mass of white rain.
"Get in the car." Syaoran called to her through the open window. She shot him a glare as she hugged her arms to herself.
"Throw your stupid pride away for a second and just get into the damn car." He said, annoyed. "You'll catch pneumonia."
"God forbid that," She muttered sarcastically, as she slid into the car where the heat immediately greeted her. "He loves me too much. He isn't going to let me die anytime soon. Oh, no. He's going to let me live a while longer, just for the heck of it."
Syaoran blinked, not knowing how to respond to that. "Here, wear this." He began to shrug the jacket off him.
"Don't bother." She said. "I wouldn't want to ruin your Armani jacket that must have cost you a fortune."
He thrust the jacket into her hands. "Just wear it." He hissed locking his fierce amber eyes to her stubborn green ones. "You're in my car, so you do what you're told."
"You rich bastards are all the same." She muttered under her breath as she put on the dry warm jacket that smelled of clean soap and a hint of spices. She pulled it around herself tighter.
"Say whatever you want. Where do you live?"
"Northwest Avenue,"
"That's fucking far! You were going to walk all that?"
"No shit, Sherlock. How else would I get home? Not everyone's as filthy rich as you all." She answered.
"What do you spend the money from the club from? You'd be able to get a car and tons of other stuff with the money you're reeling in each night." He demanded.
"It's none of your business. You keep your nose where it belongs and I'll do the same." Kira responded, staring gloomily at the pouring rain outside. She looked at her reflection from the window, but quickly looked away. There was nothing worth looking at anyway.
"I don't usually drive past here, unless it's late at night and I want to get home quicker." He said, trying to start a conversation.
"Hm,"
"I'm getting married in a month or so."
"Congratulations,"
"Yeah, but my mom piles tons of work on me. Like tomorrow night I'm bringing my fiancée out to dinner, but my mom's calling to check on my work since I failed according to her standards with the last company."
"Your mom's the boss?"
"Pretty much so," Syaoran agreed. "My dad owned the company, but he passed away when I was a kid so my mom took over."
"Sucks,"
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"Can't say," Kira replied. "I've never been there."
"Oh, um, yeah," Syaoran said lamely. He was not used to talking people of lower class. Everyone he hung around with was of upper middle or upper class. It was awkward actually having a decent conversation, or in this case, trying to make a decent conversation.
"Anyhow, I told my fiancée that I would be taking her out already. I didn't want to disappoint her and cancel the reservations, so I called up my best buddy and told him to bring her instead."
"Bad move." Kira commented
"I trust my best friend."
Kira shrugged. "Things like that are always messy situations is all I'm saying. If you think you got it down, then fine. But nine times out of then, something's bound to go wrong, especially if this girl of yours is gorgeous. Men are men after all."
"Don't judge my friend when you don't even know him." Syaoran said angrily.
Kira shrugged. "I'm not." She replied coolly. "I'm just telling you what I know from what I've observed about men. Maybe your friend's different. And if he is, he's one of a kind."
Syaoran just grunted and continued driving. Although it was only a few minutes of silence, it seemed like it was forever and never was going to stop.
"Just stop here." Kira said quietly. Syaoran looked out the window to see rows of old, broken down apartments, that he had thought that he had heard wrong.
"What?"
"Stop here." She replied again. She opened the car and stepped into the pouring rain. "Thank you for the ride." Kira took off the jacket and placed it into the car. She slammed the car door shut.
"But this isn't Northwest Avenue," Syaoran told her through the open car window. "Why are you getting off here?"
"Simply because this is where I live." She responded. "Thank you for the ride." Kira nodded her head curtly and walked to the apartment calmly and steadily, as if it wasn't even pouring outside.
Syaoran stared at as she walked and then disappeared into the battered looking apartment. He looked at the road sign and found that he was on Barracks Road, a good ten minute drive from Northwest Avenue.
Barracks was still in the run down area of Tokyo. It was better off than the area with all the clubs, but Barracks wasn't any better off. It was full of old houses and cheap shops. He normally just drove past here without a single thought. But now that he knew someone that lived here, that just surprised him.
He knew that those who worked as erotic dancers were desperate for money, but what the heck did she spend the money on if she was living on such a run down part of the town?
Syaoran finally shook himself from the thoughts. It was already 2:30 and driving back to his home would be another good forty minutes. Sighing, Syaoran looked out the pouring rain and saw that a dim light was coming from the third floor window. Giving the apartment once last glance, he drove off.
Kira left the window once she saw that the car had finally left the apartment building.
"You're back here early."
Kira turned around and faced her best friend who handed her a dry towel. "I got a ride." She replied yawning as she headed for the bathroom. "You heading to work?"
"Nah," Yuki replied. "I called in sick. I'm not in the mood, especially with the rain and what's been going on."
"What has been going on?"
"Well, for starters, I met this really weird cop."
Kira laughed. "What, he didn't arrest you?"
Yuki glared. "No, quite the opposite actually. He treated me to a cup of coffee."
"I think someone has a crush." She replied with a teasing grin.
"I don't even want to think about it. Cops and phone sex girls don't exactly make the greatest couple if you haven't noticed."
"Oh, I noticed all right." Kira said. "Was he at least good looking?"
Yuki snorted. "Good looking would be an underestimation. If I was a normal girl, I'd be all over him by now."
"That hot?"
"That hot." Her friend confirmed.
The two girls paused, shared a look, and broke into laughter.
"All right, you should go take a shower and get rid of those wet clothes. I'll get some hot tea ready while you're in there. And then I'll tell you more about this cop and what else that's happened."
-----
Eriol woke to the steady beeping of his alarm clock. He sat up, fumbled for his alarm with closed eyes, shut it off, and fell back to his bed, planning to sleep in for another five minutes before heading to the shower and then work.
"Mm. I have to hand in the case study by ten, and then I have to go over the program with Mika at two. Hm, then I think I'll start on the project due next week or Yelan will have my head." Eriol said out loud to himself in the shower. "Then I'll come back here, and oh shit!" He yelled, as he dropped the bar of soap on his foot.
"What the hell are you doing in there Eriol?" Syaoran yelled from outside the bathroom.
"I just dropped the soap on my toe." He called back.
"You're a danger to yourself." His friend said sighing.
"Damn right I am." Eriol muttered to himself.
Syaoran busied himself over in the kitchen, and was taking out the toast from the toaster when Eriol came out from the bathroom.
"About time," Syaoran told him, passing him a piece of bread and sliding the jar of strawberry jam across the table. "What's up with you today? You're slower than usual."
"I just couldn't fall asleep," Eriol replied truthfully, as he spread generous amount of strawberries on his toast.
"Anyhow, remember that you have to take Tomoyo out to Hyatt tonight and the reservations are at six." His best friend said, dismissing his friend's reply without a thought.
"Yeah, I remember," Eriol answered, wincing mentally as he thought about his throbbing toe and his sleepless night.
"I'll call Tomoyo and leave a message on her phone after you pick her up. Oh, and I have an order of red roses for her at the florist. I put them under your name, just for convenience."
"Oh, thanks."
"Yo, what's wrong with you?" Syaoran said, pausing from his original stem of conversation. "You're like totally out of it."
"I just had a really bad night's sleep." Eriol repeated.
"Well, you just have to hand in your case study and then meet up with Mika right?" He asked, knowing his friend's schedule as well as he knew his own. "Just call up Mika and tell her that you're just really tried. She would understand."
"Only if you handle Yelan and back me up."
Syaoran grinned. "Sure thing, buddy," His friend said. "I'll be talking to Mother for like ten hours, and she won't even notice that you went home after lunch."
"I bet." Eriol grimaced. "Are you ready with that case dealing with?"
"I hope I am. I spent all night on it in the office. I got back here at three am. Hopefully I'll be coherent enough to make it through the day."
"At least the presentation isn't until tomorrow. Think of today as a practice trial."
"Probably worse," Syaoran said wincing. "You know how hard my mother rides me." He sighed and collected the empty plates and brought them over to the sink.
"Have fun," Eriol replied, as he got his keys.
"You too," Syaoran replied, locking the door after them. "I better get this full report of you and Tomoyo tonight. One wrong move and you are gone buddy."
Eriol managed a weak chuckle. "You're so much like you're mother's son when it comes to issues like this."
Syaoran laughed. "Like mother, like son. I'll see you around at work then Eriol."
Eriol watched Syaoran leave before getting into his car. Without even bothering to shut the door, Eriol groaned out loud and rested his head on the wheel.
"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit."
-----
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How was it? I apologize for the abundance of cursing. Sorry! However, it is rated R. Anyhow, I hope you guys liked it. I've been horribly busy these days, so sorry for not updating in so long. I was SO busy that I wasn't even able to properly celebrate my birthday yesterday (11/15)! I mean I did get awesome phone calls, gifts, and cards, but I'll have to delay my birthday dinner until the end of this week. And I just got back from my economics exam, which was horrendously hard. Ugh.
Anyhow, tell me how this chapter was so I can make it better. It was a bit longer than usual; thought I needed to make it up to you guys.
Once again, I'm really touched by the reviews! Thank you!
Oh, yes. Those looking forward to the alternative ending to "Sort of a Fairytale", that's taking me much longer than I expected. I might not get it done until I get out of school for winter break. I'm having another huge wave of work again. Next week is Thanksgiving and then afterwards, two weeks of classes and major studying and then finals! Whoa. So, please be patient! Thank you!
And that goes to "She Will Be Loved" updates. I'll try my best.
Iris dreamer